Mayotte

Broadcast media

the publicly-owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Mayotte television and radio station (2008)

Internet country code

.yt

Internet hosts

1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 231

Telephone system

general assessment: small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications domestic: NA international: country code - 262; microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros

Telephones - main lines in use

10,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 202

Telephones - mobile cellular

48,100 (2005) country comparison to the world: 197

Agriculture - products

vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra; fish, livestock

Budget

revenues: $420 million expenditures: $394 million (2005)

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance, an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.

Electricity - consumption

139.2 million kWh (2005) country comparison to the world: 184

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6734 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

Exports

$6.5 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 213

Exports - commodities

ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon

GDP (official exchange rate)

$NA

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$953.6 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,900 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$341 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 191

Imports - commodities

food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2005) country comparison to the world: 47

Labor force

44,560 (2002) country comparison to the world: 191

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

25.4% (2005) country comparison to the world: 173

Area

total: 374 sq km country comparison to the world: 204 land: 374 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)

Coastline

185.2 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mlima Benara 660 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

12 50 S, 45 10 E

Geography - note

part of Comoro Archipelago (18 islands)

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% other: NA%

Location

Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

cyclones during rainy season

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks

Administrative divisions

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Capital

name: Mamoudzou geographic coordinates: 12 46 S, 45 13 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Country name

conventional long form: Department Collectivity of Mayotte conventional short form: Mayotte

Dependency status

departmental collectivity of France

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Hubert DERACHE (since 22 July 2009) head of government: President of the General Council Ahmed Attoumani DOUCHINA (since March 2008) cabinet: NA (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term; next election to be held in 2014

Flag description

unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms are a blue upper half with white upturned crescent moon and a red lower half with two yellow ylang-ylang flowers, supported on either side by a white seahorse, and set above a scroll with the motto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant) note: the flag of France used for official occasions

Government type

NA

Independence

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

International organization participation

InOC, UPU

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel

Legal system

the laws of France where applicable apply

Legislative branch

unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held on 9 and 16 March 2008 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 8, Diverse Right 4, independents 4, Citizens and Republic Movement 1, Democratic Movement 1, Diverse Left 1; note - political parties are the same as parties in France note: Mayotte elects two members of the French Senate; elections last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC-UDF 1, UMP 1; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 10-17 June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 1

National anthem

note: as an overseas collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)

National holiday

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Federation of Mahorans or UMP-RPR [Mansour KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or FRAP; Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA]; Socialist Party or PS [Ibrahim ABUBACAR] (local branch of French Parti Socialiste); Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego independence. In March 2009, Mayotte voted overwhelmingly to become France's 101st department - and fifth overseas department - a change scheduled to become official in 2011.

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 34,769 females age 16-49: 42,005 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 2,395 female: 2,487 (2010 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France; a small contingent of French forces is stationed on the island

Age structure

0-14 years: 46.5% (male 49,249/female 48,287) 15-64 years: 51% (male 49,665/female 57,209) 65 years and over: 2.4% (male 2,559/female 2,561) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

31.67 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 42

Death rate

2.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 222

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 16.17 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 111 male: 16.78 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by 35% of the population

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.83 years country comparison to the world: 70 male: 74.73 years female: 78.99 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

86%

Major cities - population

MAMOUDZOU (capital) 6,000 (2009)

Median age

total: 16.7 years male: 15.7 years female: 17.6 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Mahorais (singular and plural) adjective: Mahoran

Net migration rate

-13.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 215

Population

209,530 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Population growth rate

1.533% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Religions

Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic) 3%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Urbanization

urban population: 50% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

claimed by Comoros

Airports

1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 225

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Dzaoudzi